06/04/2026
As the third pillar of , the book, "A Social History of South Asians in British Columbia" brings together nineteen authors writing across migration, identity, and politics to document over 125 years of South Asian Canadian history in BC. It is the first social history of its kind to account for the full diversity of South Asian communities (Indians, Fijians, Sri Lankans, Afghans, Bhutanese, Bangladeshis, and Pakistanis) in the province, written through their own voices, drawing on archives, personal collections, and oral histories gathered across seven regions of BC.
More than a history book, it is an effort to weave together stories that have too often been told separately. By bringing diverse voices, experiences, and histories into one place, the publication helps us understand South Asian Canadian history not as a collection of isolated narratives, but as an essential part of British Columbia's story.
Whether you are a student, educator, researcher, community member, or simply curious about the histories that have shaped this province, this free resource offers a powerful place to begin.
📚 Download the book through the South Asian Canadian Legacy Project: https://saclp.southasiancanadianheritage.ca/
Credit for Images (from top left to bottom right):
1) Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives 2) James Crookall, City of Vancouver Archives 3) Judy Cavanagh, Canadian Farmworkers Union 40 BC Lumber Yard, est. 1934-35. Photo courtesy of Paul Dhaliwal Family. 5) Gill Family Photographs 6) Meera-Aarti Shah Bharatha Nathayam Arangetram
UFV Research Office Satwinder Bains Royal BC Museum University of the Fraser Valley - UFV
